I Know My Own •John 10:7-14, 25-30
By Rick Henson
In John 10, Jesus taught that He is the Good Shepherd. All understood the illustration, for raising sheep was a major industry in first century Israel. Adding to the Psalm 23 shepherd and sheep analogy, Jesus goes beyond the details of sheep care and daily activities and contrasted the true shepherd with the hireling and the thief.
Maybe a few of the Disciples and the religious leaders listening understood that the hirelings and the false shepherds to whom Jesus referred were the religious leaders, or the Pharisees, Scribes, and lawyers.
Jesus stated in John 10:14, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine” (KJV). The hireling would flee at the sign of trouble, whereas the good shepherd would lay down His life for His flock as Jesus eventually did.
Jesus taught that He has a relationship with His sheep, knowing them and they know Him. Throughout this text the verb tense is active, meaning Jesus continues to have a present relationship with His sheep. When He said He knows the sheep He is referring to us, those who are saved and have entered into a salvation relationship with Jesus.
A relationship with the True Shepherd is not some decision made some time ago that has no relevance to your life today. This salvific relationship with Jesus is vibrant, active, and ongoing. The songwriter wrote, “And He walks with me and He talks we me, and He tells me I am His own.”
Jesus then contrasted Himself with the thief, a word picture of Satan. John 10:10 reads, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (KJV).
The verse reveals much truth about our choices in life. We choose to receive what Jesus offers, or what Satan offers.
Jesus offers abundant life. The original Greek word translated, “abundant,” refers to an artesian well that naturally overflows on its own from an underground source. In Jesus, God wants our joy and purpose to overflow within us and onto those around us.
Satan, however, offers loss, death, and destruction. The Good Shepherd desires good for His sheep and the thief wants their death. This passage warns of Satan’s intent for us.
Satan seeks to steal from us. This word is never used honorably in the New Testament and is the same word in Greek as our English word, “kleptomaniac,” a mental health disorder that involves repeatedly being unable to resist urges to steal items that are generally not needed.
When God works in your life and blesses you, rest assured that Satan will attempt to remove your blessing and take what God has given.
The thief desires to kill us. This word also means, “to slay or to offer sacrifice to a deity,” and is an intense form of the word. He wants to utterly kill us. The devil would love to sacrifice you on the altar of the world and his kingdom.
The devil desires our utter destruction. The word also means “to lose completely.” Satan plans for you to be a loser spiritually. The same Greek word is translated, “perishing,” in 1 Corinthians 1:18 — “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (KJV).
Contrast the thief with our Savior. The thief takes but Jesus gives, which is implied in this verse. He came for that purpose. Luke 9:10 reads, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (KJV). In John 10:10, Jesus said He came for us.
In this passage, Jesus said He came that we might have life. The Greek word means, “to keep and hold fast to life.” Far more than a transient experience, Jesus gives life eternal. The Greek word translated, “life,” here is the same in Romans 6:23 — “but the gift of God iseternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (KJV).
Jesus gives life abundant which means in the original language, “sufficient, over and above, more than enough.” In other words, overflowing. Notice a theme here? Jesus desires to live in us and for that relationship to overflow on all around us.
We choose the way of Satan, or the way of Jesus. Jesus seeks to save us and Satan seeks to destroy us. Let us share the Good News of eternal life in Jesus so others may choose Jesus.
Henson is minister of outreach and evangelism at Bethel Church, Brandon.
